Local economies
All I want for Christmas
As an early Christmas present Tony Kirkham would like 'a clear and positive Comprehensive Spending Review which adequately reflects the demands on local government'. And he would like 'a local government settlement that allows us to meet the needs of our residents and businesses'.
Green revolution or missed opportunity?
Local government insiders tell Heather Jameson that the Government’s 10-point action plan for tackling climate change isn’t ambitious enough either in terms of the scale of the vision or about what role councils should play.
We need a detailed green recovery map
Nigel Riglar says while the Government’s emphasis on green recovery provides a way to tackle many of the most pressing issues facing us, a coherent policy framework and sufficient investment are key.
Councils are critical to beating this pandemic
Stoke-on-Trent was the first area to pilot new quick turnaround lateral flow testing. Here, council leader Abi Brown outlines what the technology is achieving and what is being learned from the trial.
The value of districts working at the local level
Chief executive at Rossendale BC Neil Shaw outlines how the council has addressed the need to support local businesses and communities during the pandemic and has shown that ‘a really local approach works’.
How Enterprise Ireland is supporting UK innovation
Ireland’s innovation agency, Enterprise Ireland, is a trusted strategic partner for UK councils, writes its Manchester based Local Authorities Lead Laura Brocklebank.
Realising the potential of rural economies
The Institute of Economic Development and the RSN have devised a new toolkit for anyone seeking to raise rural relevance in the economic agenda. Nigel Wilcox says the potential of rural economies must be realised if we are to bounce back better.
Remove 'adversarial' funding to level up regions
Removing competition from local authority funding is needed to level up the country, a think-tank has concluded in a new report.
Staying agile through the second lockdown
During 'Lockdown 2.0', resilient multi-agency systems and practices of support and enforcement are embedded throughout Great Yarmouth, Norfolk and the wider region, with councils working with partners closely and flexibly, says Sheila Oxtoby.
Creating Powerful Communities
The Recovery and Devolution White Paper must seize on the promise of double devolution to build economic and social renewal from the bottom up, says chief executive of Localis Jonathan Werran.
A chance to show long term vision on levelling up
This year’s spending round must focus on supporting places to managing the virus while signalling the longer-term strategy for building resilience into recovery, says Rosie Stock Jones.
A crucial role for districts
Martin Ellender says districts, with their local and national partners, must consider 'what has worked well during this incredibly challenging period and protect the strengths in the system highlighted in 2020'.
Preparing reorganisation is a pointless distraction
Only Somerset, North Yorkshire and Cumbria have been asked to submit unitary proposals. Steve Leach and Colin Copus say local authorities should reflect ‘real places, not artificial constructs, with which people have no affinity’.
Made in Dagenham
Graeme Cooke explains how Barking and Dagenham LBC turned a derelict industrial site in East London into the future home of London’s biggest film and TV studios.
Building Back Better and Stronger
Karen Whelan says local communities, businesses and learning institutions, working with their public authorities and Government, can unite to re-shape their local vision for towns and cities.
Five steps to delivering local green retrofit skills
A zero carbon Britain by 2050 depends on creating new green jobs across the construction sector. Councils need to take action now to make sure communities have the skills required, says Cara Jenkinson.
Rebooting the housing crisis
Tackling the housing crisis post-COVID will mean more than just building. We need to build health, wellbeing and communities as well as houses, argues Tony Clements.
Sunak's cash pledge to head off revolt
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has pledged extra cash in a bid to head off a revolt by a new northern group of Conservative MPs.
Three pathways to reducing regional disparities
Better defining ‘levelling up’ is a crucial step to achieving it, writes Professor Sir Tim Besley. A new discussion paper from the National Infrastructure Commission says a ‘balanced portfolio’ of interventions across three pathways is required.
Making Counties Count: Don’t they Already?
Steve Leach and Colin Copus argue a move to county-based unitaries would ‘draw local government away from recognisable communities and increase the drift to meaningless conglomerates’.
